Signal



March 31, 1942. E. s. RYAN 2,278,287

SIGNAL Filed May l0, 1940 fir... C l" p I like.

Patented Mar. 3l, 1942 UNITED sTATEsraTENT OFFICE SIGNAL Edwards. Ryan, Duluth, Minn.

Application May 10, 1940, Serial No. 334,427

5 Claims. (VCI. 1l6 173) This invention relates to signalling devices'and has special reference to a portable signal, particularly adapted for use by traffic ofcers or the The principal object of the invention is vide a more practical and conveniently transportable signal of this type than heretofore known.

Another object is to provide such a device in the most compact form possible for transportation and carrying about in an automobile.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description thereof.

Referring now tothe accompanying drawing, forming part of this applicationv and wherein like reference characters indicate likeparts:

Figure 1 is a frontk elevation of one ofthe signalling means as it might appear when in operation as such, but with a portion of one side broken away. y

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure'l, with a portion of the body thereof being broken away.

Figure 3 is an under plan view of the cover or closure means for the device showing the adjacent portion `of the vbody in section, and taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged broken vertical central section adjacent the upper end of the body portion, on the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the outer end of one of the banner supporting arms as projected from Figure 2.

Figure 6'is an under plan view of the auxiliary stabilizing means for the body portion.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1 1, Figure 2,

showing a plan of the locking means.A

Figure 8 is an elevation of Figure 7 fromjwithin the body portion, and on the line 8 8, Fig. 2.

Figure 9 is an elevation of the upper end of the operating rod attachments of the locking means to thebanner arms.

Figure 10 is a section and elevation of a preferred form of attachment for the ends of' the banner arms, on the line Ill l0, Fig. 1.

It is to be understood that the preferred material of which the device is constructed is that of suitable sheet metal to result in as light and substantial construction as possible.

In the drawing, and referring tov the various parts of the structure by number, I represents the lower major body portion which is preferably square in cross section, and slightly tapered from the bottom upwardly on all four sides for convenient telescopic reception of the minor bodr to pro- 1 portion 2 which is of similar shape but slightly lz-.3

smaller and substantially the same length, the proportions being such that the minor body may not at any timebe separable from the major portion by upward stress thereupon, or in other words result in a snug and substantial fit when the minor portion is drawn upwardly to its extreme position within the major portion.

`This minor portion is provided with two openings upon two opposite sides thereof, indicated at 3, and in the upper extremity of each opening 3 is pivotally united as at 4 a banner supporting arm indicated at 5. This arm has a depending end portion 6 carrying means indicated at 'I for the convenient removable support of one end of the banner roller 8, while the other end of each banner roller is supported in any convenient manner as ,at 8 in a depending bracket from the opposite end of the arm 5. Each of the arms 5 is supported upon a squared shaft as indicated at I0 even though the extreme ends of this shaft are of round form to provide pivotal action thereof as previously stated, but the centermost portion of the shaft, being squared, provides convenient means for the attachment of the crank-like arm indicated at II for attachment of the operating rod I2 which controls the extension of each arm, and which will be described later.` It will be understood, of course, that the pivotal extensions of this shaft, indicated at 4, extend through theopposite walls of the minor portion 2.

Each arm 5 carries pivotally thereunder as at I3 the relatively short arm I 4, and upon the under side of the free extremity thereof is a suitable electric globe I5 having the electric wire thereof extending to said pivotal point and thence inwardly to the interior of the body portion 2 so that the pivotal action of the arm I4 as well as the wire affords as durable a connection as possible. The arm III, being thus pivotally mounted, is readily swung inwardly under the arm 5 and parallel therewith to permit of the latter being brought downwardly and into alignment with the adjacent wall of the body portion so that it may be conveniently telescoped downwardly into the major body portion I.

I have illustrated the banners I6 as being securely fixed about the supporting shafts 8 and I'I and these shafts are designed to be of metal and vmore or less weighty to insure the steady support of the banners which hang freely from the upper one of these shafts, as the case may require. It is to be noted that the ends of these-shafts are Aslottedfor convenient attachment to the arcuure 10, thus to prevent the swinging of the banner from readily dislodging same.

The rods I 2 lead downwardly and are attached to the somewhat T-shaped locking bolt indicated at I8 adjustably held intermediate of the two angle clips I9 which are fastened in spaced relation as shown in Figure 8 upon the inside of the upper end of the back of the body portion I, and a hole is provided intermediate of the clips I9 the proper distance from the upper extremity of the portion I for protrusion of the central tongue portion 23 of the locking bolt I8 When the latter is raised for proper position for such registration. This obviously can occur only when the arms ,5 are thrown outwardly and upwardly to their horizontal position as shown in Figures 1 and 2v of the drawing. At this time the locking catch 2l is designed to function in that it may be thrown laterally and engage the lower ends of the clips I9 to insure sufcient strain downwardly upon the rods I2 to maintain the arms 5 in their lateral position. Access to the catch 2| is had through either one of the openingsv 3 in the sides of the minor body portion 2 so that the same may be conveniently operated for either raising or lowering purposes without any external attachments to the assembly. Obviously, when the tongue portion 2D of the lock I8 is protruding through the hole in the wall of the body portion IA the full extension of the two telescopic parts of the standare rmly held in position.

Spaced a suitable distance below the locking member just described is formed an opening in the back wall of the lower body portion I and in which opening is hinged as at 23 the elongated rectangularly shaped receptacle 24 for carrying tools and the like', as well as the extra banners thatA may be needed for the complete functioning of such a signalling device. This receptacle is provided with a cap like cover 25 hinged as at 25 and which cover has the upwardly extending .ange-like member 2l rigidly xed thereto to act as holding means when the receptacle is thrown upwardly into the opening provided therefor, and the wingY button 28 is turned 'to engage the ilange 2l, thus providing a very neat and compact assembly for, the purpose intended. FurthermoreV the receptacle 24 functions as a door or closure for the openingl within the back of the body portion I, through which access to the battery case 29 may be had. This battery case, obviously, is for the purpose of receiving the batteries in supplying electric energy for the lightsrboth in the ends of the arms I4 and the major light 3l).

The light 3! is carried within the smaller adjustable unit and: is similar in many respects to the tail light of an automobile, with the exception that. it is made adjustable transverse the top of the section 2 of the body portion of: the stand and this adjustability is accomplished by providing the narrow supporting bar 3|, xed, transversely, to theY upper end of the section 2, the housing 32 of theA light unit being fixed to the bracket member 33 which is of angular form and provided with a wide and elongated clip indicated at 34 which overlaps on opposite sides the bar 3l, providing an adequate and slidable support for the lamp housing 32. This housing may be readily Vextended outwardly from the outer walls of the section Z by drawingit through the opening 35 provided therefore, and, when this is done, the lower clear vision opening 36 in the under side of theV lamp housingl 32 will sufiice to illuminate the words, for example, Police printed on the outer wall of the section 2 directly therebelow, or, when not so extended, may be housed well within the upper end of the section 2 to permit same readily telescoping the major section therebelow. There is shown at 3'I a shelflike guiding bracket to assist in the rm support of the light housing 32 when fully extended.

It is not deemed essential to describe minutely the manner in which the lights I5 and 33 are connected to the battery 29, other than to say that they are connected in series, as indicated, and operated as by a suitable switch, indicated at 38.

As a suitable and novel combined closure and handle for the device when not in use I have illustrated the cover 40, which is of a size and shape to snugly t over the uppermost end of the major section of the stand, and provided centrally with the rotative T-shaped spindle, the upper winged end 4I of which extends normally materially above the uppersurface of the cover to provide convenient and adequate room for the 'ngersof ones hand, and the'lower: end of which spindle is squared in shape and rigidly fixed within the cross bar 4-2. This bar 42 is permanently xed within suitable slots, not shown, but similar to those shown at 43, adjacent the upper edge of opposite sides of the minor body portion 2 so that the cover is not normally removable therefrom. However it willi be noted that theend's ofthe bar 42 protrude beyond' the walls of the porti'onfZ, and when the two portions I and 2 are` in` their telescopic position,

. the turning of the handle 4I will swing the ends of the bar inwardly and allow them to register with the slots 43 in the opposite side walls of the major portionv I. As the bar is controlled as by the contractile helical springs clearly illustrated it will' assume such locking position the moment the handle 4I is released, thereby securely holding the entire assembly together.

As asimple means for supplying additional stability when, necessary to the stand' I have illustrated as installed in the lower end and just below the bottom 50 of the major portion I a sort of lazy tong arrangement of foot levers, clearly illustrated in Figure' 6v of the drawing, there being a false. bottom 5I installed beneath the bottom 50 and between` which bottom these arms 52 are assembledr as shown, the four free ends 53 of which: arms are extendable each one through its respective opening on all four sides ofthe member IA as the pivot 54, which extends below the bottom 5I, is rotated. In fact this rotation may take place by the simple pulling outwardly of any one or two of the bars themselves, the terminals of which are turned down to engage the/surface upon which the device is resting on the sameplane with the bottom edges of the sides thereof. Obviously some other method of increasing the effective bearing surface of the bottom of the device may be'rresortedto if so desired.

Furthermore it is apparent that' thel capacity of the inner portion of the lower half of the stand I is such as to support a number of banners I6 each having a different inscription thereon to warn motoristsV of a specific highway hazard, such as a roadside accident, hole in the highway, etc., thus fulfilling a well known need in the art of trucking, and the like.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a collapsible portable danger signal device of the type described, a hollow major housing portion, a hollow minor housing portion, telescopically united within said major housing portion, and normally non-separable therefrom, arms pivotally supported in the upper extremities of two opposite sides of said minor portion and extendable from vertical position within said minor portion laterally to substantially horizontal position, signal banners removably carried by said arms when laterally extended,

' and a light for illuminating said banners when in signalling position.

2. In a collapsible portable danger signal device of the type described, a hollow major housing portion, a hollow minor housing portion telescopically united within said major housing portion and normally non-separable therefrom, openings on opposite sides of said minor portion, arms foldably supported in the upper extremities of said opposite sides ofA the minor portion, and extendable from vertical position within said recesses laterally to substantially horizontal position, banners removably carried by said arms when laterally extended, a light at the upper end of said minor portion, and means to illuminate said banners when in signalling position.

3. The combination with a collapsible portable signal device of the type described consisting of major and minor hollow housing portions telescopically united, said minor portion carrying laterally extendable arms for supporting banners for signalling purposes; of a closure carried by the minor portion for the upper ends of both hollow housing portions when collapsed, a handle carried by said closure, and means carried by said handle for selective engagement with the upper end of said major housing portion to hold said housing portions in collapsed relation.

4. The combination with a collapsible portable signal device of the type described, consisting of a plurality of longitudinally telescopically united housing portions, of a closure attached to the upper end of the smallest of said housing portions and adapted to snugly overlap the upper end of the largest of said housing portions when collapsed, opposed openings in the upper end of said largest housing portion, a handle carried by said cover, and a cross-bar carried by said handle, said openings being arranged for selective engagement by the cross-bar within said openings to hold all housing portions in collapsed relation.

5. The combination with a collapsible portable signal device of the type described consisting ol major and minor hollow housing portions tel escopically united, said minor portion carrying laterally extendable arms for supporting -banners for signal purposes, of a closure carried vby the minor portion for the upper ends of the hol low housing portions when collapsed, a handle carried by said closure, and a cross bar within the closure and carried by the handle and projectable through the upper ends of said portions when in collapsed relation to hold said signal devicein said collapsed relation.

EDWARD S. RYAN, 

